Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani visits Orange County

Audio from this story

Share

The parade of politicians starts today with a visit by former New York mayor and one-time presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani. He’ll be at the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster to campaign for U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina – and for Van Tran, who’s seeking to unseat Democratic Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez of Orange County.

Jack Pitney is a professor of government at Claremont McKenna College. “When you get somebody of Giuliani’s stature coming into the district, it’s a sign that national Republicans are taking this seriously.”

Saturday, the Democratic Party pulls out one of its big guns on behalf of Sanchez. Former President Bill Clinton visits Santa Ana for an appearance with the seven-term incumbent.

“So this is perceived not as a marginal race," says Pitney, "but as very much part of the battle for control of the House of Representatives.”

Also Saturday, Sarah Palin hold a fundraiser for the national Republican Party in Anaheim. Polls show she’s not so popular in California, and no major GOP candidate’s on the schedule with the former vice presidential candidate.